Display device



JanQS, 1935. H. E. P LlSHKER ET AL DI SPLAY DEVICE il D90. 16, 1933, 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTORS.

BY fig/J ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 8, 1935. H. E. PLISHKER ET AL DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HERBERTEPL/SHKER MORE/5 Mf/NSO/V INVENTOR.

A TTORN E YS.

Patented Jan. 8, 1935 r DISPLAY DEVICE Herbert E. Plishker, New York, and Morris M.

Einson, Yonkers, N.

Y., assignors to Einson- Freeman 00. Inc., a corporation of New York I Application December 16, 1933, Serial No. 702,680

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in display devices for window or counter displays serving as an advertising and exhibition medium. In particular its purpose is to provide a paper or cardboard display of the simplest construction which serves double duty, i. e. is adapted to serve as an advertising or exhibiting medium for two articles or two items, referring to the same article, for which ordinarily two separate display devices are required. One of the simplest and cheapest display devices hitherto commonly used consists in a card, either square or cut in any convenient form, covered on the front side either with printed matter or a pictorial representation or both, and on the reverse side provided with a stand or easel, mostly made of cardboard, so as to keep the card in an upright erect position when placed on the floor or a shelf in the window or on the counter. As modern stores generally have open back windows and the back sides of these display cards are therefore visible from within the stores, the naked sides with their easels have an ugly, undecorative effect, and as far as the displaying and advertising value of the show case to customers from within the store is concerned, they only represent so much wasted space. The problem the present invention sets out to solve then is to provide a similar cardboard display as the one described at a manufacturing cost not exceeding that of said display, having not only the same usefulness and advantages, but adapted to do double duty, i. e. affording on its back side the same advertising and exhibiting space of articles as on the front side.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a double-faced display device, made of cardboard or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide means, other than the commonly used back wall easel, to keep said display device in an upright position.

A further object of the invention is to make these display devices collapsible, so that they can be packedand shipped in a flattened out condition, the same as the common easel-backed display cards can be handled in transit.

A further object of the invention is to make these display devices of such construction that they could be punched or cut out originally as a single integral blank, to be scored and bent afterwards into the final form.

A further object of the invention is to make it feasible to print the picture or advertisement to be displayed on the rear andfront on one side of the blank only, so that the whole lithographic or typographic printing could be done in one course through the press. v,

A further object of the invention is to give the display card such peculiar shape that it lends itself readily to various common formsof advertising displays and pictorial representations.

Another object of the invention is to provide bracing, stiffening and binding means of I the simplest and least expensive kind. 7 l

A further object is to reduce the number 0 said means to a minimum.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of the invention in the form of a cardboard blank from which the display is made;

Fig. 2 illustrates in perspective the display in the act of being set up with the spreading tabs at the sides ready to be pushed down. The advertising is omitted to simplify the design;

Fig. 3 shows the display, fully set up in erect position with the side tabs pressed down into place to keep the display open; 7

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the display device with the bottom spreader opened up and its end flaps turned upwardly to lock the spreader in position. One flap is shown, not completely turned into an upright position, to better illustrate the locking operation;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the middle of the display device along line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the invention, the principal differences comprising a different cut of the front as well as of the back side and a different form of the lateral spreading tabs and the top connection; I

Fig. 7 is a top view of this modified display device, being set up with the lateral tabs and top connection in place; and Y Fig. 8 is a cross sectional elevation along the line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

Similar characters denote similar elements throughout the different views.

These embodiments, exemplifying the inventive concept, are to be taken as illustrative only, as the invention is capable of a variety of modifications and mechanical expressions and is not confined therefore to the exact details shown.

Referring in detail to the different views, the blank form 10 from which the body of the display card is made, consists in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 substantially of two symmetrical halves 10A and 10B, integrally connected to each other along a scored line 11 which in this case forms an axis of symmetry and over which the two halves can be folded to cover each other congruently to form a double-walled poster.

The two symmetrical halves however are each provided separately with some extra' projections, connected to the main body along-some scored lines and having no symmetrical counterparts in the opposite symmetrical half of the blank form.

These extra parts are first the ledge for the adhesive 12A, the bottom spreader 13.; and the.

spreading tabs or braces 14a. and 141), which will. be described in detail lateron. s

For the sake of economy in material to be used, this double face display poster can be made out of cardboard about half as thick or less than the displays made onregular board. The larger sizes may be made of gradually increased thickness, analogous to the general practice. The lack of stifiness in the thinner cardboard is compensated by the semi-round form, given to the boards by the spreaders, as will be explained later on. Thus board of .030 pt. thickness (or even thinner for small sizes) may advantageously be used.

The shape of the main body forming the symmetrical half is more or less optional and can be greatly varied for different purposes of advertising and pictorial effect. The advertising matter shown in the figures is of course only chosen as an example, involving no special meaning or limitation. As a mere suggestion for a shape which is suitable for many instances of pictorial display, the symmetrical halves, shown in Fig. 1 comprise each a rectangular parallelogram, 15A and I5B respectively, a circular disk portion 16A and 16B respectively, and an armated headpiece 17A and 173 respectively.

A portrait or trademark can appropriately be displayed on the disk portion and the rectangular space may be used as a facsimile of a box or container of the goods advertised. The advertising matter on the two symmetrical halves can be identical or different, but evidently, when the blank is folded uponitself over the line 11, the double-walled poster thus formed shows advertiisng matter on the front as well as on the rear.

Whether the two halves of the main body aresymmetrical-which is the preferred shapeoi' not, is only optional and it would be entirely within the scope and claims of the invention if the two sides were shaped after divergent patterns, as for example, the blank, illustrated in Fig; 6, indicates. Also, the front view may for instance be a tablet of any desired shape, covered with plain printing while the back view shows a diecut head. Then, in case the back side of the cardboard is colored, it could serve as a colored background for the portrait, or the half of the blank forming the back view might be'partly cut out, as would be possible in the pictorial representation of Fig. 5 (if the empty spaces between the cards were cut out) which with a col-- ored background would give an artistic bodily effect.

Other modifications and combinations are possible and are entirely within the spirit and the possibilities of the invention.

Thus this display can be used for advertising two products which may or may not have any relation to each other, as Fig. l exemplifies. Itis also a convenient and economical medium for advertisers who exhibit a series of displays.

throughout the year. For instance, if a storekeeper contemplates twelve different displays per year, he needs only six of these double-duty units. Aside from the saving in manufacturing and printing cost, evident from the preceding description, there is also the saving in cost to be considered when these posters are shipped or distributed, inasmuch as only half the thickness of cardboard is. used for each advertising poster and therefore the weight per unit (two halves combi-ned) is not increased, while the number of display cards for the number of advertisements is just half as great as with single duty displays. Another saying in weight as well as in postage or express charges. results from the fact that no easels. are necessary. The two halves folded together are to be permanently fastened to each other. For this purpose the ledge 12A (Fig. l)

.is provided on an extreme edge of either of the symmetrical halves; for example, at the left vertical margin of the rectangular base 10A. At the scored bending line 13C, the ledge is sharply rebent, covered on the outside with adhesive and glued to the back of edge 123 which is opposite to it, when the blank is folded over the middle line 11.

It would, however, also be within the scope of this invention, if, especially in the case of large size posters the display body were made of two separate sheets of identical or similar outlines, fastened back to back at the sides or held hinged to each other by a pasting strip.

Furthermore, the tops of the two ai'cuated headpieces 17A and 17B are fastened together at 18 (see Figs. 2 and- 3) by any convenient suitable means, by little wire staples or flaps, inserted intoslots (not shown), paper fasteners (socalled McGill fasteners), or even by being glued together.

The cross section through the device would then present an appearance like the one shown in Fig. 5, resembling a Gothic arch, or substantially forming an isosceles triangle. This is, however, not indispensable, as both blank halves can be kept straight in any vertical direction and form cylindrical segmental pieces, as Fig. 8 shows, which represents the assembly of the blank illustrated in Fig. 6. The general form of the front half is similar to that of 10A (Fig. 1) but the rear half 10D shows instead of a circular disk portion and the arcuated head-- piece 170, a trapezoid 25 which culminates in a rectangular flap 26 which inturn terminates ina tongue-shaped strip 2''! on which parts in this particular instance the scale beam and the tongue of the scale is depicted. The arcuated headpiecel'lc has attached by a scored line 28a a substantially rectangular brace 28, twice as long asthe fiap Z6 and terminating in a short ledge 29 of reduced width. -The rectangular flaps 26 and 28 are about of the same width. A scored line 29a divides the ledge 29 from the brace 28, and the length of the latter, which ought to be like the width of the spreader Bar-described later-determines the greatest width or spread of the display device. In the center of this brace portion. 28 is provided a slot 28b which is wide enough to permit the tongue 2'? to be passed through. The rectangular piece 26 on the rear side 10D is likewise parted from the adjoining portions 25 and 27 by scored lines 2611 and 27a. When the front-brace 28 and the rear flaps 26 are bent inwardly over the scored bottom lines 28a and 2611, the tongue-shaped strip 27, rebent upwardly over scored line 27a canbe: stripped from below through the slot 285, the ledge 29 is thereupon inserted into the little slot 26b, adjacent to the score line 26a, completing the top junction of the two display halves 10C andlOD, as Fig. 8 indicates.

In order to provide means to keep the poster in an upright position,in place of the easel which this construction dispenses withand also to reinforce and to stiffen the thin cardboardya' spreader 13 at the bottom of one of the blank halves is provided. This spreader may be integral with the blank as in Fig.5 or (as is shown in Fig. 1) may be cut separately and pasted to:

the blank or otherwise fastened to it. The stamping out of separate spreaders results in a saving of material, considering thatthe blanks must be cut or stamped out of whole cardboard, as a little consideration will easily show. In smallersize displays this bottom spreader may however be entirely dispensed with. a

The spreader itself consists of a rectangular parallelogram, 13a, forming the main body, provided with two pairs of lateral ledges, integrally connected, to the main body at straight scoring lines 13m, over which they may be bent upwardly at right angles. These ledges are of two different lengths respectively, corresponding to the opposing sides of the parallelogram, and are des ignated 13b, 2) and 130, c, as shown in Fig. 1. One of these ledges is glued to the inside of the bottom rim 10a of either the front or the rear cardboard 10, as shown, but if the spreader is cut out integrally with the main blank, one ledge 13b is of course dispensed with; Furthermore, the spreader is scored along a center line 1301, running parallel with the bottom ledge 10e of the blank body. The purpose of this scoring line is that when the blank is folded and glued and then fastened together at the edges 12A, B, and the lower ledge 13b is glued to the opposing blank half 10B, similar to the upper ledge 13b, then by folding the spreader inwardly over the scoring line 13d, the whole blank form can collapse into a flattened out position, the spreader being tucked inwardly and occupying no space beyond the base line 106.

In order to spread the lower half of the display form into a semi-round position, thus reinforcing and steadying the whole set-up, the opposing lower halves of the rim 10c are opened up in the middle, the folded up spreader is flattened out straight and the two end flaps 130 are bent inwardly at right angles, as indicated by Fig. 4, thus locking the spreader rigidly into position. A cross-section through the middle line of the two opposing display sheets and the spreader would therefore approximate an isosceles triangle.

There is furthermore provided in the center of the spreader a round hole 13 A wooden round stick or pole (not shown) of suitable thickness and length may be thrust therethrough so that the upper end of the stick rests between the adjoining top edges of the arcuated head pieces 17A, B, or 25, 26, and thus the whole display poster, supported by this stick, may be mounted between and overhead of other merchandise, where there is not sufiicient room on the floor to set the display device on its base.

It remains to describe the construction and the use of the lateral spreaders or braces 14a and 14b, and the similar spreaders 30a, 1) and 3111,12.

They consist essentially of two tongues attached to the two upper and outer corners of one of the rectangular base portions of the blank 10.

It is, for the total effect and function, immaterial how these accessory projecting pieces 12A, 13 and 14a, b are distributed over the two blank halves. They may be all attached to one half or'to either of the halves, independently of each other.

The two tongues as shown in Fig. 1 are essentially triangular in form, integrally attached by aw'scoring line' 19 tothe upper rim of the base parallelogram ilOB (or 10A, if preferred). Furthermore, the'tongue is scored over a dividing line 20 which forms with the first score line an acuteiangle p. This angle, as may be seen from Fig. 4, determines the spread of the two corre sponding halves of the base portions at the outstanding corners. The little triangular fiap 21 onthe outside of the angle 12 is confined within the score line 20, the elongation of the score line 11 orthe edge 123 (as the case may be) and a line 22, set back from the circular periphery of the disk 16B, and leaving a little spur on tongue 23, integral-with the body portion, lying within the angle 10. Figs.'3 and 4 show how the lateral spreaders are "locked between the two blank halves. The spreaders are bent inwardly over the score lines 19 and 20, while the spurs 23 protrude over the top rims of the base portions.

Figures 6 and 7 show a modified form of lateral spreaders which even provides a stronger reinforcement and secure locking of the lateral corner spreaders. They consist in this case of overlapping and oppositely positioned ledges or tongues integrally connected over a scored line with the outstanding corners of the base portions of the main body, as shown. It is optional how they are shaped, as long as the corner angles p which determine the spread of the base portion are provided and the horizontal areas of the spreader do not extend beyond the space within the spread out face sheets of the device. One overlapping spreader on each corner is provided with a tongue 31c, 31c, which fits into a slot 300, 300 of the opposite overlapped pieces 30a and 30b. This is clearly shown in Fig. 7.

Thus it is seen that the display device can easily be set up or again be collapsed and stored away or shipped in flattened out compact form, and that all objects enumerated are attained by a simple, inexpensive and effective construction. These displays can be made of any suitable material, paper, celluloid, pasteboard, etc. and of any required thickness, and the exposed parts may be covered with any kind of decorations, lithographed, printed, colored or otherwise, to furnish an attractive display, and it is distinctly to be understood that these improvements are not confined to the particular form shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and the invention can be carried out in other ways without departing from its spirit, and therefore we claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent means coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A double duty display device, adapted to display advertising matter on two different subjects, comprising two superimposed posters of substantially equal design, each adapted to bear advertising matter on its exposed side, hingedly connected with adjoining and superimposed edges to each other at the top and the outer edges and means to spread the base of said posters into a semi-round form, resembling two superimposed and divergent arches.

2. A collapsible double duty display device, adapted to display advertising matter on two different subjects on oppositely exposed sides, comprising two superimposed posters and a separator, said posters being hinged together at the edges, on top and on the sides so as to form sharp corners, but spread apart in the. middle of the base by the separator, so that the outline of the base forms two opposite .and divergent.

arches, adapted to serve as support for keeping the display device in. upright position.

3. A collapsible display device, comprising two superimposed posters, connected on top and on the lower ends of their sides hingedly together, a collapsible bottom spreader, adapted to keep the middle portions of the bottom edges of the posters apart, and means to keep the sides oi the posters where they are hinged together, spread apart, so as to relieve the tension on the collapsible bottom spreader.

4. A collapsible display device, comprising two superimposed posters, with substantially corresponding shapes, connected on top and on. the lower ends of their sides hingedly together, a collapsible bottom spreader, adapted to keep the middle portions of the bottom edges of the posters apart, and means to keep the sides of the posters where they are hinged. together, spread apart, so as to relieve the tension. on the collapsible bottom spreader, said means comprising a pair of bracing members hinged to ex.- tant lateral corners of one of said posters and adapted to be locked to: the opposite lateral corners of the superimpwed poster.

5. A collapsible display device comprising substantially two upstanding posters, connected at the top, and a bottom spreader, said device forming. in vertical middle cross section an oblong closed polygonal figure, said bottom spreader being hingedly connected. to the base edges of said posters, and being provided with an aperture in the center for mounting the display device upon any suitable support.

6. A collapsible display device comprising substantially two upstanding posters, connected at the top, and a bottom spreader, forming in cross section an approximately isosceles triangle, said bottom spreader being hingedly connected to the base edges of said posters, and being further provided with lateral pliable ledges adapted to be bent at right angles to serve as reinforcing and locking members.

7. A collapsible display device comprising substantially two upstanding posters, connected at the top, and forming in cross section an oblong closed polygonal figure, and a bottom spreader being hingedly connected to the base edges of said posters, being in itself collapsible about a central scored line, running parallel to said base edges, and being further provided with lateral pliable ledges adapted to be bent at right angles to serve as reinforcing and locking members.

HERBERT E. PLISHKER MORRIS M. EINSON. 

